By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
Should there be a time limit on healing after a violent crime? Today, folks in the South Dakota State Senate Judiciary Committee decided "no."
Jolene Loetscher, a rape victim said, "I hope that we can also give a voice to those by helping them find justice," said Jolene Loetscher, a rape survivor.
Justice. It was a resounding word used at Tuesday's Senate panel hearing. And an appropriate one, since the crimes being discussed are life-changing, to say the least.
"It was in many ways no different than somebody putting a gun to my head because the child that I was and the person that I could have been at that point died," said Jolene.
Jolene Loetscher says she's not the only one, that she hears constantly from silenced survivors both young and old, many who still haven't healed.
Rape Counselor Patty Brooks said, "You can't put a time limit on that. You can't say 30 days, you can't say 7 years, you can't say until you reach the age of 25."
The passing of Senate Bill 68 would remove that statute of limitations on rape crimes.
And while it was voted for unanimously in the Senate committee hearing, it still has to pass in the full state Senate and the House before it goes to the Governor's desk.
"For those force-able rapes, those heinous crimes that are just vile against humanity, it's important that we not limit the ability of victims to bring forth their case in front of a court of law," said State Sen. Mark Johnston.
There are some amendments to the law. For example, if the victim has been drinking or doing drugs at the time the crime took place, then the statute of limitations will not be removed.
